New Year at DL Paris

[cbird]

Going to go to DL Paris for New Year. Have been to WDW lots but never been to DLP. Any tips regarding travel, hotels and ways to save money. Is it a good idea to stay onsite or is it not so important as in WDW?
Thanks for any info

 

[Bexx]

Onsite hotels at DLP are all within walking distance of the parks and staying at one of them would be my choice over New Year. But the preferred hotels are only a 10 minute bus ride away, and usually offer better rates.

 

[rachelpixiedust]

I would definitely recommend staying at an on-site hotel as they are all a very short walk or shuttle bus journey away from the parks and staying in one allows you to take advantage of the free Good Morning Fantasyland breakfast (have breakfast in Fantasyland an hour before the park early so you're there for when the parks opens) and the shopping service where you can have your shopping sent back to the Disney shop in your hotel. Plus it just carries on the magic, if that makes sense!
A good way to save money is to try getting meal vouchers when you book as these are about 20 euros and you can exchange them for a meal at certain Disney restaurants; we used them for the first time this year and they were really good, one less meal to think about paying for on our trip.
And even though you're not going in the summer, you'll probably still want to drink plenty of water - take a water bottle and fill it up at the many water fountains instead of paying out for new bottles.
Have a fab time!

 

[sjaakie]

Its very very busy that night. We spend new years eve in the park four years ago and our impression was that all the citizens op Paris had the same idea.
At twelve o’clock we stood in front of the castle and my phone rang. I had no opportunity to open my handbag. We could not move because of the crowds. If one of us had fallen down he wouldn’t survived it.
Remember that after the fireworks EVERY ONE goes for the entrance. It looked like a stampede. We stayed at Hotel new York so we thought to walk to our room in a minute or ten.
When we arrived at the Village the gates where closed. Behind the gates security gards with watch dogs stood gard so nobody could climbe over the fence. They walked along the gates with the dogs.It looked iff there was a war going on.
The gates where closed because off hooligans who wanted to go to the Hurricane Discothèque.
The disco was closed because it was overcrowded and fire alarm. The youth wouldn’t take no for an answer and try to storm the gates. It was horribly. Never thought that I would hear Maglites being slashed on sculls in the Disney Park.
The crowd before the gates became bigger and bigger. Mostly parent with young children trying to reach the hotels.After an half our standing in the cold a staff member told us they opened a little gate so we had to walk around the hotels to get to on the premises.
The day after I talked to the manager of HNY and he told us that it was a problem every year.
Its “normal” for the French youth on new years eve to start a riot and destroy things.
Looking back we better had left the park an hour before closing time and watched the fire works from the hotel.

 

[Ware Bears]

This is awful and how frightening for everyone but especially for families with young children.

 

[sjaakie]

This is awful and how frightening for everyone but especially for families with young children.

Its just a warning.

 

[Minnie Much]

Whenever ive been we found that staying onsite is the best way to be, it saves you time and also money as your park tickets come with the package (however some of the offsite hotels are ticket enclusive too but we have heard that the courtesy buses can be a bit of a nightmare)!!!!!
With regards to travel:

Air:

Pros
Quicker
Convenient

Cons
Timings are not that flexible Luggage space is limited
Transfers
Cost (more expensive)

Eurostar:

Pros
Direct to disney
Fairly quick

Cons
Getting to the station (can prove difficult)
Luggage space limited
Cost (quite expensive)

Car/Sea

Pros
Cheapest option
Flexible times, can travel
when you want to

Cons
Longest time of travel


Use the fast pass option as much as possible, this saves a lot of time,as you probably know.

We found that the best place to eat (with the best value too) was billy bob's. Some people get put off by it when you first see it but trust me dont judge a book by its cover!!! Its an all you can eat buffet and the food is really nice, they have options for all people of all ages: Vegetarian options, Childrens buffet etc.

Do the goodmorning Fantasyland breakfast as that gets you into the park 1 hour earlier, i think!!!!!!!!!!!! However you cannot go on any of the rides untill the park opens but you will still be at the head of the ques as you will be in the park 1st!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If you are not asked about the GMFL breakfast when you check in at your hotel, ask them about it instead. The GMFL breakfast is only available to guests staying onsite.

Have a great holiday!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Minnie Much

 

[cbird]

Thanks for all that info. Really helpful. Looks like onsite would be best.